Arrest of Ex-Manager on Fraud Charges Shakes St. Croix Business Community

In a significant crackdown on economic crimes, the V.I. Police Department’s Economic Crimes Unit in St. Croix has taken decisive action by arresting a former business manager implicated in a serious fraud case.

The arrest, made on March 19, 2024, came after a meticulous investigation initiated on October 20, 2023. This followed a formal complaint by a local business owner who reported suspicious financial activities to the authorities. The business owner alleged that Taylor Holmes, the individual in question, had engaged in deceitful practices to siphon funds from the company.

Holmes, 32, served as a manager where she was found to have illicitly made purchases amounting to $1,343.77 using the company’s account, actions that spanned both her employment period and thereafter.

The Economic Crimes Unit, demonstrating their commitment to safeguarding local businesses against fraud, executed an arrest warrant, successfully apprehending Holmes without any complications. Facing serious allegations, Holmes is charged with obtaining money by false pretenses, grand larceny, and embezzlement.

Post-arrest procedures saw Holmes being processed and held on a $35,000 bail. With the bail amount unmet, she was subsequently remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correction Facility, awaiting a crucial Advice of Rights Hearing scheduled for March 20, 2024.

This case has resonated throughout St. Croix, highlighting the vigilance of the Economic Crimes Unit and serving as a stern warning to those contemplating similar fraudulent acts.